Boston Educator A Finalist for National Teacher of the Year

BOSTON, MA — A Boston charter school teacher has earned national recognition, named among four finalists for National Teacher of the Year.

Sydney Chaffee, the 2017 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year, is a ninth grade humanities teacher who teaches English language arts and social studies at Codman Academy in Dorchester since 2007.

She is one of four recognized as finalists who "embody the character, knowledge, skills, and passion of exemplary teaching," according to the Council of Chief State School Officers, which presents the award.

The other three finalists are Chris Gleason, an instrumental music teacher and band director in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; Megan Gross, a special education teacher in San Diego, California; and Athanasia Kyriakakos, an artist and teacher in Baltimore, Maryland.

A state education department press release says Chaffee, a Dorchester resident, has sought to grow as an educator while remaining in the classroom, and her responsibilities include mentoring student teachers; serving as humanities department chair; coordinating a weekly, student-led, all-school assembly; and coordinating Codman Academy's partnership with the Huntington Theatre Company. She believes that all students can learn with appropriate supports and challenges and that education is a transformative tool for social justice.

"It's a joy to be recognized for doing something I love," Chaffee said in the release. "I am honored and humbled to be among the finalists, and I look forward to learning from all of the state teachers of the year."

The National Teacher of the Year program, run by the Council of Chief State School Officers and presented by Voya Financial, Inc., identifies exceptional teachers nationwide, celebrates their effective work in and outside of the classroom, amplifies their voices and empowers them to take part in policy discussions at the state and national levels. The National Teacher of the Year will be announced this spring after the four finalists have in-person interviews with the selection committee.

The four finalists, along with the ultimate winner, are chosen by a national selection committee that represents 18 education and community organizations.

Image via CCSSO